A methaemoglobin former, 4-aminopropiophenone (p-aminopropiophenone, PAPP), which is active only after metabolic activation in vivo, exhibits a sex difference in male Beagle dogs and bitches. Bitches produced more methaemoglobin for a given dose of PAPP than male dogs. The probable reason for this difference was a lower rate of N-hydroxylation in male dogs.